Ally Directory
Connect with faculty and staff who support first-generation students and their families, including those who were the first in their own families to earn a four-year degree.
Connect via email by clicking the appropriate name.
| Contact | Other Student Engagements |
|---|---|
| Abowitz, Rob Associate Director Office of Residence Life |
EcoReps; College Diabetes Network; Club Roller Hockey; BOOM - Break Out of Miami advisor |
| Acton, Riley Assistant Professor Economics |
Women in Economics Club (WE@MU) co-advisor |
| Adkins, Ed.D., Monica Senior Assistant Director Student Success Center |
Bridges Scholars program advisor; UNV 117 course professor |
| Allman, Jess Associate Director of Development College of Arts and Science |
Navigating college, college life and life in general |
| Auhagen, Alicia Copywriter/Editor University Communications and Marketing |
Writes and produces stories about Miami with a focus on its students |
| Beissel, Adam Assistant Professor Sport Leadership and Management |
Supervises the Sport Analytics Students Association; directs multiple short-term study abroad programs to New Zealand, Ireland, France, and the United Kingdom |
| Bell-Robinson, Vicka Director Office of Residence Life |
Manage housing and student engagement experiences |
| Bennett, Craig Senior Director for Student Success Student Success Center |
Student success and belonging on campus |
| Bielicki, Amy Resident Director Office of Residence Life |
Advises Community Leadership Team |
| Blue, Jennifer Professor Physics |
Member of LSAMP and WISDEM advisory boards; advisor for Women in Physics, Physics Mentors and STEM Society |
| Boehm, Andrew Associate Director Admission |
Helping students find successful paths at Miami |
| Bonanno, Anne Academic Advisor Farmer School of Business |
FSB Ambassadors; Beta Gamma Sigma; FSB Global Studies; Passport and Bridges programs |
| Bonham, Mary Ben Associate Professor Architecture and Interior Design |
Interior design major lead advisor; net zero energy competition team advisor |
| Bragg, JS Assistant Director for Student Organizations Office of Student Activities |
SEAL Ambassadors; League of Geeks; Quidditch; MEGA; MWF; Charter Day Ball; Swing Syndicate |
| Branson, Christa Senior Academic Advisor College of Arts and Science Academic Advising |
|
| Castillo Shrestha, Alicia Global Initiatives Program Coordinator Global Initiatives |
Global Readiness Certificate program advisor |
| Chen, Charlie Assistant Director and Liaison to the College of Arts and Science Center for Career Exploration and Success |
Career advising; completed B.A. (East Asian Language and Culture) and M.A. (Kinesiology and Health) at Miami; currently working on PhD (Educational Leadership) |
| Coates, Rodney Professor Global and Intercultural Studies |
Kappa Alpha Psi; FYRE |
| Craig, Carolyn Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging College of Arts and Science |
Advice on transitioning to and navigating college, professional/graduate school preparation, career readiness, and undergraduate research, including the First-Year Research Experience |
| Crane-Coyle, Andrea Risk Specialist Finance and Business Services/Risk Management |
|
| Daugherty, Jacqueline Associate Teaching Professor Individualized Studies (Sociology; Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies) |
Director of the Western Center for Social Impact and Innovation; advises undergraduate social science research; supports service-learning endeavors; mentors on career and graduate school options |
| Davis, Amelie Associate Professor Geography and Environmental Studies |
Advises Green Oxford; advises undergraduate student research |
| Davis, Bob Department Chair Statistics |
Involved in board game events on campus; advice on finding or initiating study groups |
| DeBiasio, Louis Professor Mathematics |
Undergraduate research |
| Dlugos, Daniel Visiting Assistant Professor Biology |
Undergraduate research; involved in Making Meaning at Miami |
| Doleh, Jesze Park Specialist Missouri State Parks |
DEI Coordinator for Miami’s Project Diversify; science education and programming |
| Dowling, Patrick Academic Advisor Regional Academic Advising |
Future planning; connecting students to campus resources |
| Duchesneau Spaulding, Kourtney Resident Director Office of Residence Life |
Advisor for Alpha Phi Omega Service Fraternity; Pancakes for Parkinson’s |
| Dye, Ryan Director of Education Abroad Global Initiatives |
Education abroad advising |
| Earls, Amie Assistant Lecturer Education, Health and Society |
Advisor for the Regional Education Club Regional; partnered with GMVYMCA to connect students with job opportunities |
| Eaton, Isabelle Director of Graduate Programs Farmer School of Business |
Delta Delta Delta alumna advisor; opportunities in Business graduate studies |
| Edwards, Michael Todd Professor of Mathematics Education Teacher Education |
Departmental Coordinator for Adolescent Young Adult Program; Undergraduate Summer Scholars mentor; assists students in publishing research in peer-reviewed journals |
| Ferris, Joshua Visiting Instructor First-Year Integrated Core, Information Systems and Analytics |
Advice on reaching out to professors and getting involved on campus |
| Fisher, Greg Associate Professor Marketing |
Business career mentorship; networking |
| Fishwick, Ashley Academic Advisor College of Arts and Science |
First-generation student; advice on coursework, major selection, and campus resources |
| Frabotta, Richelle Director, Sexuality Education Studies Center Department of Family Studies and Social Work, Sexuality Education |
Advisor of F-Word: Feminists Working on Real Democracy student organization |
| Friedman, Jim White Family Associate Clinical Professor of Creativity and Entrepreneurship Altman Institute of Entrepreneurship |
Faculty Advisor of Igoodea Creatives student-run creativity organization |
| Gerke, Tammie Teaching Professor Geology and Earth Environmental Science |
Advice on how to take notes, how to study, how to communicate with professors and/or advisors, and how to advocate for themselves on campus |
| Gibson, Katie Humanities Librarian Miami Libraries |
Library research support and instruction |
| Grote, Christina Regional Director of New Student Programs and Engagement Student Affairs |
Promotes student involvement and belonging at Miami Regionals from orientation to commencement |
| Hahn, Chip Associate Clinical Professor Speech Pathology and Audiology |
Undergraduate Summer Scholars mentor; National Student Speech-Language-Hearing Association advisor |
| Haney, Patrick J. Associate Dean and Professor Political Science |
JANUS Forum |
| Hart-Westbay, Danielle Senior Assistant Director for Graduate Student Career Development Center for Career Exploration and Success |
Career advice |
| Hayes, Tracey Academic Advisor College of Creative Arts |
Academic advising and first-generation support |
| Hopkins, Ashley, Ph.D. Project Director Upward Bound Program |
Was a first-generation student; in previous role, advised the Miami Firsts student organization |
| Howard, Tekeia Director of DEI Programming Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion |
Student career advising; trip and networking host; post-graduate planning advisor |
| Hurst, Susan Business Librarian Miami Libraries |
Using library resources, researching and finding information |
| Ishiu, Tetsyua Associate Professor Mathematics |
Graduate school’s Cross-Cultural Mentoring Program |
| Jarrett Bromberg, Shelly Associate Professor/Director of Liberal Education Latin American Studies |
Undergraduate Summer Scholars mentor |
| Jarvis, Ashley Academic Advisor Farmer School of Business |
Undergraduate Associates faculty mentor |
| Jeep, John M. Professor German Studies |
German National Honorary; study abroad; advises undergraduate research |
| Johnson, Trevor Senior Statistical Analyst |
Miami graduate; engages with Columbus and Atlanta alumni associations |
| Johnson-Ghartey, Adelaide Assistant Director for Intercultural Initiatives & Gender Equity Center for Student Diversity & Inclusion |
Black Student Action Association advisor; provides programming for multicultural diverse student population |
| Kelley, Christopher Lecturer Political Science |
First-Year advisor; University Studies advisor |
| Kelly, Clark Assistant Dean College of Engineering and Computing |
Advises multiple CEC student organizations; has lived on five different continents |
| Kinney, Jennifer Professor of Gerontology Sociology and Gerontology |
Sigma Phi Omega; advises undergraduate research |
| Kirkmeyer, Brian Senior Assistant Dean for Student Success College of Engineering and Computing |
Academic advising; advises three student organizations; navigating the administrative side of college |
| Koons, Helen Academic Advisor and BUS 106 Faculty Farmer School of Business |
Advising; volunteer with Paws for a Cause |
| Korach, Jill Assistant Director, Field Programs Biology and Project Dragonfly |
Advice on how to have success as an off-campus or part-time student |
| Kromer, Katie Resident Director Office of Residence Life |
Miami Firsts Affinity Community within Emerson Hall |
| Kuykendoll, Megan Instructor/e-Learning Coordinator Family Science and Social Work |
|
| Kuykendoll, Tim Data and Planning Analyst College of Arts and Science |
|
| Listhartke, Heather Graduate Teaching Assistant English |
Howe Writing Center consultant |
| Lorigan, Gary Chair and Professor Chemistry and Biochemistry |
Advises undergraduate research; mentoring opportunities |
| Lowery Bretz, Stacey University Distinguished Professor Chemistry and Biochemistry |
Advises undergraduate research |
| Luongo, Margaret Associate Professor English: Creative Writing |
Dean’s Scholars; Literary London internship program; Undergraduate Summer Scholars mentor; Sigma Tau Delta |
| McKee, Heidi Professor English |
Advisor for professional writing majors; helps set up professional development events |
| McLaughlin, Sara, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Sociology and Gerontology |
|
| McLeod, Claire Associate Professor Geology and Environmental Earth Science |
Organizes undergraduate professional development program supported by National Science Foundation; faculty advisor for Miami Undergraduate Geological Society (MUGS); co-founder of department’s DEI committee |
| Meyers, Karen Assistant Clinical Professor Finance |
Excellence in Education Committee; reference coaching; Respect Facilitator Toolbox Presentations; A Brand Called You Presentations |
| Moore, Jonika Senior Associate Director, Diversity Initiatives Admission |
Transitioning to college life |
| Murfield, Monique Associate Professor of Supply Chain & Operations Management; Director of the Center for Supply Chain Excellence |
Connects students with companies for job, internship, and networking opportunities; Supply Chain Management Association faculty co-advisor; Delight Ministries faculty advisor |
| Nesbit, TaraShea Assistant Professor English: Creative Writing |
Students for the Promotion of Writing advisor; Undergraduate Summer Scholars mentor |
| Nixon, Terry Professor Finance |
Delta Sigma Pi |
| Norris, Keisha Assistant Director of Academic Advising and Diversity Initiatives College of Engineering and Computing |
National Society of Black Engineers advisor |
| O’Brien, Jen Director of Communications Division of Student Life |
Manages the Miami Student Life Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter channels |
| O’Hara, Karen Assistant Director of Communications and Marketing Global Initiatives |
Advice on adjusting to college life and finding your place on campus |
| Olszewski, Arnold Assistant Professor Speech Pathology and Audiology |
Academic advising; CAS Dean’s Scholar mentor; advises undergraduate research |
| O’Neil, Joe Associate Professor German |
Study abroad; advises student organizations; internalizing prospective career |
| Patrick, Craig Assistant Director of Marketing Center for Career Exploration and Success |
Mentors student communication and graphic design interns; was a nontraditional student |
| Peterson, Kaara L. Associate Professor English Literature |
Dean’s Scholars; Literary London internship program; Humanities Center Apprentices Program |
| Pinegar, Shannon Visiting Assistant Professor Psychology |
Research opportunities; Miami Ohio Innocence Project faculty advisor; Psi Chi faculty advisor |
| Pyzoha, Amanda Academic Program Coordinator Accountancy |
OSCPA Student Ambassador advisor |
| Radina, Elise Associate Dean and Professor Family Science and Social Work |
Project Kids Network; Child Life Club; Kappa Delta; Alpha Delta Pi; advises undergraduate research |
| Ramirez, Hiram Senior Director, DEI Strategic Initiatives Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion |
Advises student organizations; supports program planning; career exploration; was a first-generation student; went on to obtain MEd and PhD |
| Ravancho, J Academic Advisor Farmer School of Business |
Research opportunities |
| Robles, April Director of Operations and Communications Center for Career Exploration and Success |
Career development; Alpha Omicron Pi |
| Ryan, Emily Coordinator of Planning and Communications Institute for Community Justice and Well-Being |
Critical Whiteness Reading Group |
| Sampson, Joe Senior Clinical Lecturer Media, Journalism and Film |
Faculty advisor for Miami TV News and RedHawk Radio; journalism program internship coordinator; Office of Residence Life Faculty Affiliate; Student Life Council |
| Sellers, Sherrill Associate Dean and Professor Family Science and Social Work |
Advises undergraduate research |
| Sheumaker, Helen Associate Teaching Professor History, Global and Intercultural Studies |
Phi Alpha Theta; Miami History Association |
| Sipola, Maija Assistant Teaching Professor Geology and Environmental Earth Science |
Facilitates the Miami Pod in the Unlearning Racism in Geoscience (URGE) program; Miami Dance Marathon faculty advisor |
| Slotten, Carolyn Associate Teaching Professor Family Science and Social Work |
|
| Smith, Cheyenne Academic Advisor Farmer School of Business |
Advisor for Toastmaster’s Business Organization; advises students with business majors, minors, and students seeking admission to the Farmer School of Business |
| Smith, Marcia Senior Academic Advisor Farmer School of Business |
|
| Smucker, Bryan Associate Professor Statistics |
Project advisor; commuter students |
| Spangler-Cropenbaker, Brooke Associate Teaching Professor Psychology |
Navigating college life; creating community |
| Sparks, Lindsay Assistant Athletic Director for Marketing and Fan Engagement Intercollegiate Athletics |
Code Red Student Loyalty/Fan Group |
| Strantz, Adam Assistant Professor English, Professional Writing and Interactive Media Studies |
SIGDOC board member; research and publishing opportunities; graduate school application mentoring |
| Sukumaran, Beena Dean College of Engineering and Computing |
Advises student organizations; mentors; focus in mechanical and manufacturing engineering |
| Swallow, Ryan Academic Coordinator Student-Athlete Academic Support Services |
|
| Swain, Michael Academic Advisor College of Arts and Science Academic Advising |
Career/major counseling, academic advising, and adapting to college |
| Sweany, Erin Visiting Faculty Languages, Literature and Writing |
Advocating for yourself; picking class to become well-rounded |
| Tassoni, John Professor English, College Writing |
Middletown Men Against Rape and Sexual Assault (MMARS) |
| Thomas, Michelle Director of Student Organizations and Diversity Farmer School of Business |
Navigating college; career exploration and networking guidance |
| Toops, Stanley Associate Professor Geography and International Studies |
East Asian Studies advisor; Sigma Iota Rho (International Studies) |
| Torres, Peter Joseph Visiting Assistant Professor and Heanon Wilkins Fellow English |
Support and advice; navigating academics |
| Treviño, Ricardo Jr. University Photographer/Adjunct Faculty Residence Life; Communications and Marketing; College of Creative Arts |
InFocus Photography Club |
| Urayama, Paul Associate Professor Physics |
Sigma Pi Sigma physics honors society; advises undergraduate research |
| Vivoda, Jonathon Associate Professor Gerontology |
Research advice; advises Scholars in Aging, Miami’s Gerontology club |
| Webb-Sunderhaus, Sara Associate Professor and Director of Composition English |
Supervises English department’s TAs; serves on MA and PhD students' committees |
| Werwinski, Lisa Assistant Lecturer Statistics |
Organizes celebratory events for students, including the First 50 Days Social Event and Statistics Student Celebration |
| Wessels, Peter Teaching Professor Psychology |
Society for Psychological Inquiry faculty advisor; first-year student experience; building relationships with faculty |
| White, Chanelle Academic Advisor Farmer School of Business |
Advises business majors, minors and students seeking admission to the Farmer School of Business |
| Wood, Sam Education Abroad Advisor Global Initiatives |
Runs events for students studying abroad, such as pre-departure orientations and re-entry events |
| Yezierski, Ellen, Ph.D. Professor of Chemistry and Director, Center for Teaching Excellence |
STEM Society advisor; undergraduate and graduate research in chemistry education |
| Young, Cheryl Assistant Provost Global Initiatives and eLearning Miami |
International student advisor; cross-cultural experiences mentor; City of Oxford Student Community Relations Commission member |
| Zimmerman, Beth Pre-Law Advisor Henry Center for Pre-Law Education |
Advise students interested in a law career |
| Zink, Beth Associate Director Center for Career Exploration and Success |
Career advising; focus in sociology |
